"
"Tschaa! Suppose you show me your authority?"
"Certainly!" I answered.
Realizing that he wasn't in immediate danger of life he had returned his
own pistol to his pocket. So I showed him the muzzle of mine, and he
divined without a sermon on the subject that it would go off and shoot
accurately unless he showed discretion. He didn't offer to move when
Jeremy's agile fingers found his pocket and flicked out the mother-of-
pearl-handled, rim-fire thing with which he had previously kept his
courage warm.
"I was told not to trust you too far," I explained. "I was warned in
advance that you might question my credentials. You are said to be
jealous of interference. As a precaution against miscarriage of this
plan through jealousy on your part, I was ordered to oblige you to obey
me."
"And if I refuse?"
"Your widow will then be the individual most concerned. Be good enough
to take pen and paper, and write a letter to my dictation."
Jeremy went to the door, which was partly open, made sure that the
servant was out of earshot, and slammed it tight. Rene the banker went
to his escritoire, took paper, and shook his fountain pen.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212